Cultivator.



G; G. LETHERMAN. CULTIVATOB.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11 1911.

1,010,276. v Patented Nov.28,1911.

Witnesses Inventor Attorneys 1 COLUMBIA 'PLANOGRAPH b0 WASHINGTON, D. c.

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GEORGE C. LETHERMAN, OF ARCADIA, NEBRASKA.

GULTIVATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. LETHER- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Arcadia, in the county of Valley and State ofNebraska, have invented a new and useful Cultivator, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to cult-ivators, and has for its object toprovide an implement for cutting fissures or incisions in the soil ofcultivated fields extending into the sub-soil whereby the greatestamount of moisture may be retained in the soil.

This invention is designed especially for use in semi-arid localities toassist in the cultivation of alfalfa and other vegetation, and isdesigned to out fissures o-r incisions in the soil without destroyingthe roots. In cutting fissures or incisions in the soil, the moisture ispermitted to sink into the subsoil where it is retained to furnishmoisture to the vegetation. In this manner the moisture may be retainedin the sub-soil for a considerable period of time to be fed to thevegetation during dry periods or periods of drought.

This invention is embodied in the novel arrangement and construction ofthe cultivator blade and its adjustment with the cultivator beam ashereinafter described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein similar reference characters indicate similar parts, andwherein,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cultivator, parts broken away.Fig. 2 is an upper view of the cultivator blade, showing the beam incross section.

Referring in details to the drawings, a cultivator beam is designated at20 having the rear end thereof curved downward and the cultivator orsword blade is designated at 5, having the rear portion thereof forkedalong its length as indicated at 6 and fitting over the front edge ofthe rear end of the beam 20. This blade is curved to conform with thecurve of the rear end of the beam 20 and at its upper end is providedwith the ears 7 standing astride the beam 20. A lever 13 is pivoted atan intermediate point by the bolt 14 to the lower end of the beam 20 andat its forward end is pivoted by the bolt 19 to the lower end of theblade 5 between the forked portion 6 thereof. The rear end of the lever13 has a series of apertures 16 therein, and a bolt 15 is adapted toSpecification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 28, 1911.

Application filed September 11, 1911.

Serial No. 648,754.

be passed through the said apertures to secure the rear end of the leverto the beam.

At the upper end of the blade, below the ears 7 are rearwardlyprojecting straps S standing astride the beam 20 having the rear endsscrew-threaded. These straps 8 have a series of apertures 18 therein,and a bolt 17 is adapted to be passed through the respective aperturesand the beam 20 to secure the upper end of the blade to the beam. A clipor plate 9 is also passed over the rear ends of the straps 8 against therear edge of the beam 20 and is secured against the said beam by thenuts 10 screw-threaded on the rear end of the said strap.

The nose of the cultivator or sword blade is designated at 11 and thelower end 12 of the said blade is made horizontal to form a shoe uponwhich the blade rides beneath the surface of the soil. By removing thebolt 15 and swinging the free end of the lever 13 the blade may beeither raised or depressed and at the same time be swung forward at itslower end or backward, thus forming a novel adjustment for the saidblade with respect to the cultivator beam, it being understood that theupper end of the said blade is first disengaged from the beam to permitthe adjustment to be made.

In use, the cultivator beam is drawn over the surface of the soil in thecustomary manner, and the blade 5 is forced into the soil to extend intothe sub-soil and in being drawn forward outs deep and narrow fissures orincisions in the soil extending into the sub-soil to permit the moistureto descend into the sub-soil. The blade 5 being curved forward at itslower end and being narrow does not destroy the rest of the vegetation,and being forked at its rear end, forces the soil apart to permit thepassage of the lower end of the beam and the attached parts withoutinterfering with the soil to destroy the roots. The operator can in thismanner go over an alfalfa field and cut numerous fissures or incisionstherein which will readily let the moisture descend into the sub-soilfor the purpose above stated.

What is claimed as new is The combination with a plow beam curveddownward at its rear end, of a curved sword blade arranged in front ofthe lower end of the said beam, a lever pivoted at an intermediateportion to the lower end of the said beam and pivoted to the lower endof as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signathe said blade at itsforward end, means for ture in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

securin the rear end of the said lever to the said beam in its adjustedposition, and GEORGE LETHERMAN' means for securing the upper end of theWitnesses: said blade to the beam. JOHN WALL,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing P. M. POUND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

